Fiqh of Fasting: Expiation for the inability to fast due to age or illness

Whoever is unable to fast because of age or chronic/terminal illness can choose not to fast and feed one needy person for each day. In the beginning when fasting was prescribed, the people had the option of not fasting and instead they could feed a needy person for each day that they didn’t fast. So the rich had a way out in the beginning. Ibn Qudaamah (d. 620 AH) (Rahimullah) said, “The scholars are agreed that it is permissible for the sick person not to fast in general. The basis of that is the aayah in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later.” [Surat al-Baqarah (2) V. 185 – interpretation of the meaning]

so it abrogated it.”

Commenting on the abrogation or modification Ibn Abbas (Radi Allahu Anhu) (d. 68 AH) said “The first one is not completely abrogated, it applies to the old and those that cannot fast due to illness”

Chapter 4: Repayment1.Missing a day of fast in Ramadhan2.When does one make up a missed fast3.If missed fast are not made up until few dats before next Ramadhan4.Missed fasts first or voluntary?

Chapter 5: Recommended, Disliked, and Impermissible Days of Fasting1.Recommended Every Other Day Sawn Dawood2.The three white days of every Islamic month3.Six days of Shawwaal4.Month of Muharram and the 10th5.Ten days of Dhil Hijja and that of Arafat6.Disliking of the month of Rajab7.Disliking of the day of Friday8.Disliking of the 30th of Shabaan9.Impermissibility of fasting on the two Eids10.Completing of a voluntary fast is not Wajib